Silent Letters

The letter b at the end of a syllable is often pronounced more like p, and in some dialects it may sound nearly silent when devoiced, so lieb can sound like leep. It still influences the preceding vowel length.

Final d in German is typically pronounced as a t sound rather than being silent, so Hund sounds like hoont. It marks the end of the word clearly even if devoiced.

Final g in German often sounds like a hard k, not silent, as in Tag pronounced tahk. In some dialects the g can be softened or dropped, but standard German retains the consonant sound.

The letter h is silent when it appears after a vowel to indicate that the vowel is long, as in sehen where the h is not pronounced but lengthens the e. It is pronounced at the start of syllables or when it signals a breathy sound.

The letter s is never truly silent, but it changes sound depending on position: it can be /z/, /s/, or /ʃ/. In compounds, an s may be reduced but still heard as a linking sound rather than disappearing completely.

The letter t is generally pronounced clearly in German; it is not silent at the end of words. In fast speech it can be weakened but remains audible as a consonant boundary, so learners should pronounce it.

The letter w is pronounced like English v in German and is never silent. It always contributes to the word’s sound, as in Weg where the w initiates the consonant glide.

The letter z is pronounced /ts/ in German and is never silent. It gives a sharp consonant sound at the start or middle of words, as in Zeit, and learners should articulate both elements of the sound.

Silent letters per se are uncommon in German; more often letters like h mark vowel length without sound, and consonants such as b, d, g are devoiced rather than dropped. Paying attention to these subtle cues will improve your pronunciation and listening.